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Big Trouble in Little China

£1,495.00

Film

Big Trouble in Little China

Additional information

Year

1986

Size/Type

UK Quad (30" x 40") Single Sided

Country of Origin

British / UK

Condition

Near mint minus; originally rolled (as issued)

Director

John Carpenter

Actor/Actress

Kurt Russell, Carter Wong, Dennis Dun, James Hong, James Pax, Kate Burton, Kim Cattrall, Peter Kwong, Victor Wong

SOLD - this item is sold. Please browse our currently available stock

“They told Jack Burton to go to hell…and that’s exactly where he’s going !”

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A very COOL poster and a fantastic example of the supremely talented British film poster artist Brian Bysouth’s work.  (Brilliant interview with Eddie Shannon Film on Paper). This original “Big Trouble in Little China” movie poster has it all; incredible graphics, great detail & amazing colours. It is very rare and one of the scarcest John Carpenter movie posters from the 80’s to find. The original UK quad movie poster offered here is from first year of release, 1986 and displays to excellent effect. Originally rolled (as issued) it is presented in incredible unrestored condition and is the best example of this poster I have ever offered for sale. In true investment grade condition, this genuinely rare cult classic from the Carpenter archives represents an extremely desirable and collectable piece of movie memorabilia.

Trivia: John Carpenter and Kurt Russell explain on the audio commentary that the test screening was so overwhelmingly positive, that both of them expected it to be a big hit. However, 20th Century Fox put little into promoting the movie, and it ended up being a box-office bomb. In addition, the film was released in the midst of the hype for Aliens (1986), which was released sixteen days afterwards. However, it went on to be a huge cult hit through home video. Carpenter and Russell explained that the reason the studio did little to promote the film, was because they simply didn’t know how to promote it.

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Film Description

Big Trouble in Little China Movie Poster

“A Mystical, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Kung Fu, Monster, Ghost Story !”

An adventurer trucker takes on 2000-year-old magician who must marry a green-eyed young girl who formerly was kidnapped in front of his eyes . The trucker (Kurt Russell) along with a varied group (Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, Victor Wong, Kate Burton) set out in pursuit sinister Lo Pan (James Hong) who wants to restore his youth . Later , it happens mayhem and wreak havoc beneath the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown and encountering every Chinese cliché known . They contend three nifty warlords who are equipped with their own static electricity and large hats.

“Big Trouble in Little China” contains noisy action , thrills, a load of Kung-Fuey and lots of humor with tongue in cheek attitude. The movie is full of Chinese tortures , water tortures , dark underground streams, black magic creatures and surprising catacombs. Kurt Russell as the T-shirt trucker is good and likable , he unwittingly becomes involved into a mystical world underneath . The pig trucker is a swagger , a John Wayne-lookalike, who when he fires his gun into the ceiling the plaster to fall on his head. Nice electronic musical rightly fitting the action by the same director John Carpenter. Colorful and evocative cinematography by Dean Cundey. Overwhelming especial effects showcase by the expert Richard Edlund, with no computer generator . Director John Carpenter is in familiar ground with this well-done tale on the style of comic books , Saturday morning cartoon , Indiana Jones wake and old serials . The film was realized during his best period in the 70s and 8os when he directed classics as Halloween, The Fog, Christine, They Live, Escape from New York and The Thing. The movie will appeal to adventure fans but packs a roller-coaster thriller and wholesome amusement. The film is a must see for Kurt Russell fans and John Carpenter enthusiasts.

Vintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria

Mint
A poster that has never been used or displayed and may show the most minor signs of age and wear. The poster should have no holes or tears.

Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.

Very Fine
A poster with bright colour and crisp overall appearance. It may have very general signs of use including slight fold separation and fold wear. It may have pin holes or very minor tears. This is the highest grade allowed for a poster that has been restored either on linen or on paper.

Fine
A poster with good colors and overall clean appearance. It may have minor tears small paper loss and minor stains. It may have some fold seperation.

Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.

Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.

Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.

All photographs and images used on our site are photographs of the actual poster/item you are buying, we do not use stock photographs.

Most Popular Poster Types

US Posters

LOBBY CARD
11 x 14″ printed on heavy stock paper. Used as display in theatre lobbies. Originally made in sets of eight. Some sets have a title card, which contains credits and artwork, essentially a mini-poster. The remaining seven cards are coloured photographic credits and poster artwork showing different scenes from the movie.

WINDOW CARD
14 x 22″ printed on heavy stock paper with the top 4-6 inches usually left blank for the local cinema owner to fill in the cinema and the date it was due to play. Largely discontinued during the 1970’s.

HALF SHEET
22 x 28″ printed on heavy stock paper. The image displayed is normally a smaller version of the main poster, although some do have different artworks and sometimes come in two versions.

INSERT
14 x 36″ printed on heavy stock paper. Inserts usually have the same artwork as a one sheet. Popular with collectors since they are smaller and easier to frame. Normally come tri folded or rolled.

STYLE Y/FORTY BY SIXTY
40 x 60″ printed on heavy stock paper. Rare since they were primarily used for major motion pictures only. Designed to be used outside the theatre, on an easel, normally at a drive-in movie theatre.

ONE-SHEET
27 x 41″ printed on paper. This is the most common size of poster, intended to be displayed in a glass “marquee” case. It is the most sought after size by collectors. Since the 1980’s most posters are sent to the theatre rolled and maybe slightly smaller measuring 27″ by 40″ and with the advent of backlit light boxes a growing number of modern movie posters are available double-sided and the more traditional single-sided.

THREE-SHEET
41 x 81″ printed on paper. These were printed on two or three separate sheets designed to overlap, few survive. Used for larger advertising spaces, normally posted on walls, perfect for huge movie theatres the drive-in, where people could see them from a distance. From the 1970’s on, three-sheets were sometimes printed in one piece and issued as “international” versions to be used abroad.

BRITISH Posters

BRITISH QUAD
30 x 40″ Most common poster size used in the UK. British Quads are horizontal and may have different artwork to the US one sheet. Like a US one sheet they normally come in two versions. Like a US one sheet they are usually supplied single-sided or more commonly now as a double sided poster.

BRITISH ONE-SHEET
27 X 40″, printed on paper. Very rarely used size.

ITALIAN Posters

ITALIAN LOCANDINA
13 x 28″ six inches shorter than the US insert, very nice size to frame. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.

ITALIAN PHOTOBUSTA
18 x 26″ Glossy, high quality, used as lobby cards in Italy. Size may vary, either vertical or horizontal format. There are also double Photobusta or mini Photobusta.

2-FOGLIO (DUE)
(DUE): 39 x 55″ This is the standard poster size used in Italy. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.

4-FOGLIO
(QUATTRO) 55 x 79″ Very large Italian poster printed in two pieces, often contains very beautiful artwork.

FRENCH Posters

FRENCH
47 x 63″ (GRANDE) or 24 x 33″ (PETITE) French movie posters normally come with different artwork to either the US or the UK. Like the Italian’s some of the artwork is extrememly beautiful.